Rita

[DeepDiverBob]

I just saw a report on TV that said Rita is now the third most itense storm in history...and possibly still growing.

[Atlaua]

Can you say yellow journalism?


Yea, Rita is a Cat 5. But it's sitting over 87 deg water right now with nothing to slow it down. Assuming the projections are correct, it's gonna hit cooler water before it reaches land. NOAA and every legit wetherman I've seen are expecting it to hit as a Cat 3.

There is some legit reasoning for the gas jump since several refineries have already shut down, with more to follow. However the news media are just taking advtantage of Katrina. They all saw fabulous ratings in the wake of Katrina that are now dwindling rapidly. They are talking up a Cat 5 hitting in the hopes of getting people glued to the TV.

My favorite thing about this is the whole Andrew thing. "The last Cat 5 hurricane to stike the US was Andrew." What a load of crap. Andrew was a 4 period. You can't just decide 8 years later that the damage warrants ignoring the wind speed and claim a Cat 5.

Don't get me wrong. The people in the western gulf are in my thoughts and prayers but I don't think it helps anyone to incite panick the way the media is trying to do right now.

James

[DeepDiverBob]

I agree with what you say, but I dont think it matters too much it it is a cat 4 or cat 5, there is going to be a lot of wind, a lot of water and a lot of damage.

I'm just glad to see the people of Texas are learning from the mistakes of the people in Lousiana and are getting out.

[Atlaua]

BTW, the Crown Weather website is a great resource for hurricanes:

http://www.crownweather.com/tropical.html

The NHS is backing down on it's estimate of a Cat 3, now saying "at least a Cat 3":

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE ESTIMATED NEAR 170 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THIS MAKES RITA A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY
FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. A SLOW WEAKENING TREND
IS FORECAST BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE COAST LATE FRIDAY OR
EARLY SATURDAY AS A MAJOR HURRICANE...AT LEAST CATEGORY THREE.


Keep Natasha in your thoughs as she is in the direct path.